India: Now, FDA Heat on Imported Cigarettes

Source from:  Times of India 04/15/2016

After seizure of Rs 300 crore worth cigarettes across Maharashtra, the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has now shifted focus on imported tobacco products that are being sold without the mandatory 85 per cent health warning on both sides of the pack. Even duty-free shops selling tobacco products at the airport are likely to face the heat..

Last Saturday, officials from the drug regulatory body raided a shop in Fort for stocking imported cigarettes that carried minimal or no health warnings. "We have seized stocks worth Rs 12 lakhs from the retailer for selling products which were non-complaint with the health norms. Some of the product packs had absolutely no textual or pictorial warnings," said Harish Baijal, joint commissioner, FDA.

Baijal said that the owner has been booked under section 7 of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA). Under the act, the seller and distributor of cigarette can face one year imprisonment, a fine of Rs 1000, or both. The centre has made 85% health warnings compulsory from April 1, 2016, despite repeated attempts by the tobacco manufacturers to thwart the decision.

The union health ministry wrote to all state governments asking them to seize the tobacco products before they could hit the market. Maharashtra FDA was the first one in the country to implement the diktat. The health ministry has also written to civil aviation, tourism, revenue, commerce and external affairs departments informing them about the warning and emphasising that all tobacco products that is produced, distributed or supplied in the country should bear the warning.

Cancer physicians from Maharashtra have lauded the government and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for becoming the first state to crack down on tobacco products. A body of doctors under the umbrella of Maharashtra Cancer Warriors has commended chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for upholding the resolve to advance health policies for effective tobacco control. "Mouth cancer is the commonest cancer in men in Maharashtra due to rampant chewing habit. Needless to say that the state loses 2000 crore every year due to tobacco related illnesses," said Satish Sonawane, co-ordinator, Maharashtra Cancer Warriors.

They doctors believe that the FDA's crackdown will certainly reduce the burden of cancer in few years from now. "Maharashtra was the first state to ban flavoured chewing tobacco, flavoured supari and e-cigarette. We are happy that the government is also contemplating banning chewing of tobacco in public place and ban on sale of lose cigarettes and bidis," said Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, head and neck cancer surgeon at Tata Memorial Hospital. Enditem